Portable derrick



Aug. 1, 1944. McEWEN ETAL 2,354,922

PORTABLE DERRICK Original Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4 Shee ts-She'et 1 grwe/wkm A g- 1944- .LMCEWEN ET AL 2,354,922

PORTABLE DERRICK Original Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1944- J. M EWEN ET AL 2,354,922

PORTABLE DERRICK Original Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .JbH/V 7. .954 BERG, -70///V IV Eva-N,

1, 1944- J. McEWEN ET AL 2,354,922

PORTABLE DERRICK Original Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4 Sheec-Sheet 4 a r W e/wtom J/l/V 7. 5:4 BERG,

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE DERRICK Ohio Original application February 14, 1941, Serial No.

378,924. Divided and this application Decemher 5, 1941, Serial No. 421,798

8 Claims. (Cl. 189-11) This invention relates to portable derrick equipment for drilling oil, gas and water wells and for pulling rods, tubing and casing from such wells which have been previously drilled.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a portable derrick which is so designed that it may be quickly and easily set up for operation or collapsed for transportation without requiring an undue length of time, the employment of special equipment, or the services of specially trained workmen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a derrick having a portable base on which is pivotally mounted a structural steel mast adapted for swinging movement between a prone or horizontal position of transport over the base and an upright substantially vertical working position in which the mast is located at one end of the base, and wherein resilient shock-absorbing mechanism is provided on the end of the base to yieldably arrest swinging movement of the mast as the same approaches its upright working position.

It is another object of the invention to provide in such a derrick a locking device for retaining the loaded energy of the resilient shock absorbing means used in arresting upward swinging movement of the mast structure, whereby upon release of said locking device, the stored energy of said resilient means may be subsequently utilized to initiate the return movement of the mast structure from its upright working position to its prone position of transport.

This application is a true division of our copending application, Serial No. 378,924 filed February 14, 1941.

For a further understanding of the invention and additional objects, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which a derrick has been disclosed in detail.

In. the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tractor and semi-trailer to which a derrick formed in accordance with the present invention has been attached;

Fig, 2 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view taken through the derrick on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the rear portion of the semi-trailer body and the derrick, showing the latter in its elevated or upright position;

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken through the hydraulic power unit employed to elevate the derrick, the plane of this section being indicated by the line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line VV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the derrick and showing the means for retaining the derrick in its upright position;

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line VII-VII of Fig. 3, this section showing locking means for holding the telescopic section of the derrick in its extended position;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken through the locking mechanism on the plane indicated by the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line IX-IX of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken through the derrick and showing mechanism for effecting positive actuation of the means for locking the inner section of the derrick in an extended position;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line XI-XI and showing lever and cable means for actuating the locking means shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the derrick supporting vehicle and showing a modified type of spring-pressed bumper for initiating the return of the derrick to a horizontal position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates a truck or tractor unit employed to move the derrick from one well location to another. This truck has a semi-trailer 2 connected therewith as at 3, the semi-trailer having an internal combustion engine 4 mounted thereon adjacent to the forward portion. Behind this engine, there is positioned a draw works 5 of the type generally used in well working equipment. At the rear end of the body 6 of the semitrailer and at the sides thereof, there is provided a pair of standards I which, in this instance, are formed of channel members maintained in their substantially upright positions by braces '8. At the upper ends of the standards, there is provided a transversely extending shaft or pivot 9 upon which the derrick, designated generally by the numeral [0, is supported.

The forward ends of the side members of the trailer frame are also provided with uprights II for engaging a portion of the derrick and supporting one end thereof when the derrick is in a prone position. In the present form, the derrick includes a plurality of corner legs I: formed from angles disposed at the corners of a rectangle when the derrick is viewed from the end. At longitudinally spaced points, the angles are connected on three sides by transversely extending girt members l3 suitably reenforced by angles l4 welded or otherwise secured thereto. These angle members extend slightly diagonally with respect to the girt members in order to form an angle brace, the corners of which are disposed a greater distance from certain of the legs I: than the corners of the girt members. The relation of the corner legs is further maintained by providing truss members I5 which extend diagonally from one corner leg to the other between the girt members.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, by providing the girts and trusses only on three sides of the derrick body, one side is permitted to remain open and this side is disposed upwardly when the derrick is in a prone position. It will also be noted from Fig. 2 that the girts and trusses on the lowermost or outer derrick section are disposed on the outer sides of the comer legs while those on the inner telescoping section are arranged on the inner sides of the corner legs in order that the outside will be free from obstructions which might interfere with the relative movement between the sections. The corner legs at the open side of the inner derrick section are braced by angularly extending bars l5 which extend from the corner legs to the girt members ii at the back of the inner section. The lowermost corner legs or those at the back of the derrick are provided adjacent to the lower ends with plate members i'l through which the pivot 9 extends. Suitable bearings may be provided in connection with these plate members for receiving the shaft and providing for pivotal movement of the derrick on the shaft.

The plates are spaced from the lower ends of the corner legs a distance suflicient to permit the ends of the legs to be disposed in close relation to the ground surface when the derrick' is elevated to an upright position, the lower ends of the legs having threaded sleeves I! carried thereby for the adjustable reception of feet I 9. These feet may be adjusted in the sleeves after the derrick section has been elevated to move them into firm engagement with a previously formed foundation of timbers 20, planks or other members disposed on the ground adjacent to the well bore.

To move the derrick from its prone to an elevated position, the trailer frame is provided at each side with a pivot 2| for the reception of the lower end of a hydraulic power unit 22. The pivots 2| may be adjustable to permit movement of the lower ends of the power units toward and away from the trailer body to reduce the trans verse width when the device is adjusted for transportation. The power units include a plurality of tubular members, certain of which telescope the remaining portions to decrease the length of the power units when the derrick is moved to a prone position. The tubular members which are connected directly with the pivots 2| have flexible conduits 23 connected therewith to conduct the fluid-under pressure to the interior of the power units, the conduits being threaded or otherwise secured to the flttings at the lower ends of the power units and communicating with passages 24 formed in these fittings, these passages communicating at their inner ends with the interior of the tubing sections.

Between the e 24 and the interior of the lowermost sections. there is provided a valv seat 25 with which a valve disk 28 may be engaged. This disk is formed with a plurality of reduced openings 21 for the controlled passage of fluid from the power unit back to the reservoir or power generator through the conduit 23. The disk 28 is fltted in this instance on a bolt 2|, the head of the latter member serving to limit the disk in its movement. When fluid under pressure is introduced to the power unit through th conduit 23, the disk will be lifted from its seat to provide for a rapid introduction of the fluid into the power unit. After the power unit has elongated a distance sufficient to elevate the derrick, the disk 26 will return to its engagement 3 with the seat and in the event the derrick would again move downwardly, the speed at which it could move would be governed by the rate of flow of fluid through the reduced ports 21. This mechanism forms a safety device to prevent in- Jury to the workmen or the apparatus which might be caused it the derrick should suddenly fall to its lowermost position.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, suitable packing 28- is employed to prevent the escape of fluid under pressure around the joints between the various sections of tubing forming the power cylinder.

The upper ends of these units are connected with plates 30 secured to the rear corner legs of the lowermost derrick section, pivots passing through the plates and the perforated upper ends of the innermost movable section of the power unit. While the form of power unit illustrated in the drawings has been described in detail, it is obvious that this type of unit could readily be replaced by any other unit capable of receiving fluid under pressure and transmitting motion to movable elements.

After the power units have been elongated and the derrick has reached its upright position, the longitudinal axis of the derrick will have passed a slight distance beyond a true vertical plane. Immediately prior to reaching this vertical plane, the lower ends of the derrick legs, or a brace extending therebetween, will engage the outer ends of a plurality of spring-pressed plungers 3| carried by the frame of the trailer. As the der-. rick continues to move beyond the upright posi-' tion, the springs 32 will be compressed. These springs are relatively heavy and require considerable force to effect their compression. To prevent the springs from moving the derrick toward a lower position, suitable locking means, such aspins 33, are engaged with the plungers to hold the springs 32 in their compressed condition and thus prevent the force of the spring from being applied to the derrick while it is being used in its upright position. If desired, a latch 34 may be pivoted to the trailer frame as at 35 for engagement with part of the derrick to retain it in its elevated position, this latch having means to limit the movement and insure the engagement with the portions of the derrick provided therefor when the derrick is being elevated, this means being indicated at 36 in Fig. 6.

After the derrick has been moved about the pivot 9 to its upright position and is positively secured therein, the inner section may be moved longitudinally within the outer section to elevate the crown block 31 to a. greater distance from the ground. Any suitable means may be provided for moving the inner section, the means in this instance constituting a plurality of pulleys 3| iournaled at the upper end of the lower section and receiving cables 39 secured at one end to the lower end of the inner derrick section and extending to the draw works. When power is applied to the draw works, the cable 39 will be wound thereon and, due to the force applied by the cable to the inner derrick section, this memher will be elevated until the crown block reaches the proper height.

To retain the inner derrick section in its elevated position, the lower end thereof is provided with a plurality of latch members designated generally by the numeral 40 which cooperate with longitudinally spaced stops 4| carried by the corner legs of the outer section on the inner surfaces thereof. When the inner section has reached its proper extended position, bolts 42 may be inserted through registering openings in the corner legs of the sections to positively hold the upper section in its extended position. The latches, by cooperating with the stops 4i, temporarily hold the derrick sections in their positions of adjustment while the bolts 42 are being inserted. The stops 4i are provided at longitudinally spaced points on the lowermost section to prevent accidental telescoping of the upper section into the lower section.

These latches, which ar illustrated in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, are fastened to the girt member at the lower end of the inner derrick section.

\ ment will be precluded as soon as the lower end These latches include slidable blocks 43 which.

are V-shaped at their outer ends in order that they may enter the angle legs. The blocks have central slots 44 for the reception of guide members 45 through which bolts 46 project to secure these members to the girt at the lower end of the inner section. These bolts also hold the plates 41 which form part of the guides for the blocks 43 to the derrick section. These plates include angle sections 48 and braces 49, the angles and braces reenforcing the plates and preventing buckling or other movement when the load of the upper derrick section rests on the blocks 43. Coil springs 49 are positioned between one end of the slot 44 and the guide member, these springs serving to move the blocks 43 into engagement with the inner surfaces of the corner legs.

To effect the disengagement of the blocks 43 from the stops 4|, the former are provided at their rear ends with perforated ears 50 for the reception of one end of cables 5|, the opposite ends of which are connected with spools 52 journaled on the lowermost braces 15. The spools at the opposite sides of the derrick are connected by another section of cable 53, this cable transmitting movement from one spool to another. One of the spools has an arm 54 projecting therefrom, the outer end of this lever being perforated as at 55 to receive one end of a pull cord 56 which extends around a pulley 51 journaled on the under side of the lowermost girt anddownwardly to the lower end of the derrick when it may be grasped by a workman to impart tension thereto to efifect the movement of the blocks 43 against the action of the springs 49.

Due to the leverage provided by the arm 54, the springs 49 may be formed of relatively heavy gage wire so that they may positively move the blocks 43 into engagement with the angle legs and still not require the operator to exert a great amount of force to efl'ect the release of the latches. As long as tension is applied to the cable 55, the latches will be held free from engagement with the stops 4|. If, however, the cable 55 should be released during the downward movement of the inner derrick section, this moveof this derrick reaches the next set of stop members. The movement could then be resumed only when tension was again applied to the cable. By reason of the latches, the danger of destroying or injuring the derrick parts or the workmen is greatly minimized. Through the provision of the pull cord to govern the operation of the latches, the necessity of having a workman climb to the upper portion of the lower derrick section to release the upper section is eliminated.

When the derrick is to be adjusted for transportation, the bolts 42 may be removed, then the workmen may descend prior to the lowering of the upper derrick section. After this section has moved to its lowered position, the movement oi which is controlled by the cable 39 and the draw works, the derrick may be swung to a horizontal or prone position over the trailer. To efiect this movement, power is applied to the units 22 to move the lower end of the derrick into a firm engagement with the plungers 3|. This movement will relieve the pins 33 from the force of the springs 32 and the pins 33 may be removed. The latch 34 may then be disengaged from the derrick and the fluid pressure released from the units 22. When this pressure is released, the springs 32 will expand and move the derrick from its position on one side of a true vertical plane to a position on the other side of this plane. Gravitational force will then cause the derrick to continue to move to its horizontal position. It will be understood, of course, that the feet I! are adjusted into the sleeve I8 before the latch 34 is released so that they will not interfere with the movement of the derrick.

A more elaborate type of spring bumper has been illustrated in Fig. 12. When this form is employed, the rear sill 58 of the vehicle frame is provided with a plurality of openings for the vehicle frame is provided with .a plurality of openings for the reception of spring containers 59 which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and are secured to the frame thereof. These containers telescopically receive complemental containers 60 having annular rings 6| for engagement with the caps 62 of the containers 59 to limit the degree of outward movement of the members Bil. A plurality of nested springs 53 are positioned within the containers 59 and 50 and tend to force the latter out of the former. transverse pipe 64 connects the outer ends of the members 60 to engage the derrick when it is being swung to an elevated position. After the derrick engages the pipe 64, continued movement will force the containers 50 into the containers 59 in opposition to the force of the springs 53.

The bumper is held in a retracted position by a screw 65 welded to the pipe 54 and a nut 66 carried thereby, the latter member being moved longitudinally on the screw to engage the endof a sleeve 61 welded or otherwise secured to the sill 58. When the bumper is moved by the derrick, the screw will slide through the sleeve 51 and as the nut is mounted on the screw, it will also move therewith longitudinally of a tube 68 having a polygonal cross section to fit the nut. After the springs have been compressed, the tube 61 is revolved to move the nut into contact with the sleeve 61 through the use of a shaft 59 connected with the tube as at 10 and provided with a sprocket 'l I. The latter member receives an endless chain 12 which is also trained, around another sprocket 13.

Rotation of the member 13 is accomplished through the use of a crank 14 Journaled at a suitable location on the vehicle. When .the nut has engaged the sleeve and the fluid pressure is relieved on the power units, the force of the springs is suflicient to prevent rotation of the nut. To effect the movement of the derrick to a lowered position, it is necessary to apply fluid pressure to the power units to relieve the nut from the force of the springs at which time the nut can be rotated and moved away from the sleeve, turning the crank H in a reverse direction. 'The force exerted by the springs may be varied through the adjustment of the screws 83a carried by the inner ends of the spring containers. These -screws engage spring seats which transmit the movement of the screws to the springs. The use of the bumper and screw type lock, shown in Fig. 12, avoids the necessity of having the workmen approach the lower end of the derrick during the lowering operations.

In Figs. 10 and 11, there has been illustrated a modified type of mechanism for controlling the latch blocks 43. These members are slidably carried by the lower end of the inner section of the derrick as previously described and are yieldably urged to extended positions by springs. To effect movement thereof in opposition to the springs, the blocks 43 are provided with perforated ears I at their inner ends. Links 18 connect the blocks 43 with short arms "forming parts of pivoted levers 18. The latter members have longer arms which are connected by links 19 with an equalizing bar 80 pivoted on the derrick section as at 8|. The bar also has another link 82 connected therewith, which transmits movement to the bar from the short arm of a bell crank lever 83 mounted for pivotal movement as at 84 on the derrick. The longer arm of the lever 83 has a cable 85 secured to the outer end thereof, this cable corresponding to the cable 56, previously described, and serving the same purpose, that is, the transmission of power and motion from an operator stationed on the ground to the latch members.

From Figs. and 11, it will be apparent that a pulling force applied to the cable 85 will cause the longer arm of the lever 83 to swing downward and the short arm will transmit motion to the bar 80 through the link 82. Similar movement will be imparted by the links 'I9-to the levers I8 which in turn move the latch blocks through the links 18. Due to the use of the links and levers, the latches will be positively moved to retracted positions when the cable 85 is pulled with suillcient force. The amount of power necessary to effect movement of the latches has been reduced to a minimum by providing the lever 83 with an arm of considerable length.

When the derrick is in use, cables 58 will be trained around the pulleys in the crown block and those in a traveling block 59. These cables may be retained in this position even when the derrick is disposed in its prone position, the traveling block, resting in the derrick as illustrated in Fig. 1. The cables need not be removed from the crown block and the necessity of having to thread these cables prior to each use of the derrick will be avoided.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a telescopic and pivoted derrick has been provided which readily lends itself to transportation from one well location to another. Due to the simplicity of construction, the services of specially trained workmen need not be employed, the use the derrick is made safe in its operation.

.The various parts may be modified from the construction shown and such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable derrick of the type having a movable support and a mast section mounted ad 1 jacent to one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position and an upright position slightly beyond a vertical plane passing through the pivotal axis. means for operating said mast comprising fluid pressure actuated jack means pivotally connected at the ends with said support and mast section, resilient bumper means engaging said mast in its upward movement prior to reaching a truly vertical position, continued movement of said mast toward its operative upright position serving to progressively load said bumper means, and means for holding said bumper means in flexed condition.

2. In a portable derrick of the type having a movable support and a mast section mounted adjacent to one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a. horizontal position and an upright position slightly beyond a vertical plane passing through the pivoted axis, means for operating said 'mast comprising fluid pressure actuated jack means pivotally connected at the ends with said support and mast section, spring pressed bumper means engaging said mast in its upward movement prior to reaching its operative vertical position, continued movement of said mast to cause the latter to assume its operative vertical position serving progressively to compress the spring of said bumper means, and means for holding said spring in a compressed state.

3. Ina portable derrick of the type having a movable support and a mast section mounted adjacent to one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position and an upright position slightly beyond a vertical plane passing through the pivoted axis, means for operating said mast comprising fluid pressure actuated jack means pivotally connected at the ends with said support and mast section, resilient bumper mean engaging said mast in its upward movement prior to reaching a truly vertical position, continued movement of said mast serving to progressively load said bumper means, and means for holding said mast in its upright position.

4. In a portable derrick of the type having a movable support and a mast section mounted adjacent to one end thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position and an upright position slightly beyond a vertical plane passing through the pivoted axis, means for operating said mast comprising fluid pressure actuated jack means pivotally connected at the ends with-said support and mast section, resilient bumper means engaging said mast in its upward movement prior to reaching a truly vertical position, continued movement of said mast serving to progressively load said bumper means.- means for holding said bumper means in flexed condition. and lock means for holding said mast in its upright position.

5. In a derrick oi the type having a support section and a mast section moimted for pivotal movement between horizontal inoperative and erect operative positions, power actuated means for moving said mast from the former to the latter position, yieldable bumper means engaged by a portion of said mast prior to reaching its operative position, cooperative means associated with said bumper for storing energy imparted thereto by continued movement oi said mast after engagement with said bumper, and manually controlled latch means for preventing the release of energy from said cooperative means until expenditure of such energy is desired.

6. In a derrick oi the type having a support section, mast means mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on said support section between prone and erect positions, spring abutment means carried by said support section, spring means engaged at one end with said abutment means,;-mast contacting means engaged with the opposite end of said spring means, said pring means being loaded through continued movement of, said mast after engagement with said mast contacting means, means for maintainine said spring means in a loaded condition,

' and controlling means for said load maintaining means.

7. In a derrick, a portable base vehicle, a mast, means uniting said mast to said base vehicle providing for pivotal swinging movement of the mast about a substantially horizontally axis,

means for moving said mast about said pivotalaxis between a substantially horizontal position oi transport overlying said base vehicle and a substantially vertical position operation wherein themastis arrangedatoneendoithebase the latter assuming its fully upright operative position, whereby when the mast is moved to its final upright position, said spring means is placed under progressively increasing load, and a locking device for retaining the loaded energy oi. the spring means,- whereby upon the release or said locking device, the energy of said loaded spring means will be utilized to initiate the return movement of the mast from its upright to its prone position oi transportation.

8. In a derrick, a portable base vehicle, a mast, means uniting said mast to said base vehicle pro; viding for pivotal swinging movement of the mast about a substantially horizontally disposed axis, mean for moving said mast about said pivotal axis from a substantially horizontal position of transport overlying said base vehicle and a substantially vertical position of operation wherein the mast is arranged at one end or the base vehicle with the lower portion thereof disposed for contact with the ground. a shock-abmrbing mechanism comprising progressively loaded spring means carried by the base vehicle and engageable with the lower'end oi the mast below th pivotal axis thereof when said mast approaches its upright operative position, and releasable means for maintaining the sprin means of said mechanism under loaded conditions when said mast occupies it upright operative po tion, the release oi said last-named means serving to enable the energy stored in said loaded spring means to be utilized for initiating return movement or the mast to its transportable position.

JOHN McEWEN. JOHN P. SELBERG. 

